Spindle insulating seal



March 1969 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 3,434,304 I SPINDLE INSULATING SEAL I Filed Sept. 27, 1967 Sheet of 3 I N VEN TOR.

Caz-Z EMeyerkeefer BY/JZ M I March 1969 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 3,434,304

SPINDLE INSULATING SEAL Filed Sept. 27, 1967 Sheet 4? of 5 1 N VEN TOR.

Car] .5. Meyerlaefer BY Z a 5 r h 1969 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 3,434,304

SPINDLE INSULATING SEAL Filed Sept. 27, 1967 Sheet 3 of s INVENTOR.

United States Patent C) 3,434,304 SPINDLE INSULATING SEAL Carl E. Meyerhoefer, Little Neck, N.Y., assignor to The Regina Corporation, Rahway, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 676,986 Int. Cl. F16d 3/00, 3/48 US. Cl. 64-6 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is of electric insulating means for the spindles of ambulatory floor, rug, and fabric care machines, particularly those that apply liquids in their use.

The principal object of this invention is to furnish insulation for that portion of a spindle that projects from the electric motor housing and to deny access of cleaning fluids and the like along the surface of the spindle to the interior of the housing.

Another object is to provide heat and wear resisting means that will not decrease the efiiciency of the rotating spindle by introducing objectionable friction producing elements.

Still another object is to secure the desired results with economical parts and ease in assembly with the machine.

Other objects and applications of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows and from an examination of the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a spindle seal embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view, half sectionalized, of the spindle seal of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical view, half sectionalized, of that portion of a floor care machine with the hub of a rotary brush secured to the spindle.

FIGURE 4 is a section through 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the center of the connection of the hub of a rotary brush to the spindle of a floor care machine showing the relation of the spindle seal to adjacent parts, with a broken away section showing such relation prior to its final seating in the machine.

In the drawings in which the same number refers to the same or a similar part, electric insulating spindle seal 7 is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 prior to assembly in a fioor care machine. It is collar-like in form with a lower inwardly projecting tapered circular lip 19 and an upper outwardly extending, circular flange 20 surmounted by a raised rim 21. Circular ribs 18 are raised on both the upper and lower surfaces of flange 20.

As shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, spindle 1 passes downward and outward of motor housing wall 2 and has removably attached to it hub 3 of a circular rotary brush shown only in part. Spindle 1 is rotatable within spindle bearing 5, the latter being retained in place by motor 6 ice frame 4. Spindle seal 7 encircles spindle 1, its circular flange 20 being compressed between flange 6 of spindle bearing 5 and motor housing wall 2. Insulating spindle washer 8 and spindle washer retainer 9 are positioned as shown.

The attachment of hub 3 .involves the following construction. An insulating cap 10 surrounds the end of spindle 1 with its flange 11 hearing upward against lip 19 of spindle seal 7. Drive pin 12, fixed in spindle 1 within an insulating sleeve 13, lies in a pair of oppositely disposed slots 14 in the top surface of hub 3, and by it rotary motion is imparted to the hub.

Hub 3 is held on spindle 1 by means of insulated hub lock 16 which is urged outward of a well in spindle 1, by spring 17, a limited distance into recess 15 in hub 3.

Referring to FIGURE 5 attention is called to the function of ribs 18 on spindle seal 7. In the broken away portion it is seen that prior to assembly ribs 18 project upward and downward but when spindle seal 7 is assembled they are compresed and the respective surfaces from which they project are levelled off. This construction insures a tight seal along those surfaces.

Circular lip 19 of sleeve or collar-like spindle seal 7 being of smaller diameter then spindle 1, is, when spindle seal 7 is assembled to spindle 1 deformed to give sealing effect around spindle 1 by pressure against its surface.

With the insulating parts as shown, so-called double insulation, as required by contemporary safety regulations, is obtained by preventing metal and liquid contact with metal inside the motor housing.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been described it is not thereby intended to limit the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an electrically driven floor care machine, electrical insulating means for a spindle comprising an electric motor and motor housing with an opening in the housing adapted for extension outward therefrom of a motor driven spindle,

a spindle having a non-conducting cap enclosing the end of the spindle with its inner rim a spaced distance outward from the housing, and

a collar of semiflexible non-conducting material anchored within the motor housing and extending outward therefrom in sealing contact with the inner rim of the cap and the spindle.

2. In an electrically driven floor care machine, electrical insulating means for a spindle comprising an electric motor and motor housing with an opening in the housing adapted for extension outward therefrom of a motor driven spindle,

a spindle having a non-conducting cap enclosing the end of the spindle with its inner rim a spaced distance outward from the housing,

a collar of semiflexible non-conducting material anchored within the motor housing and extending outward therefrom in sealing contact with the inner rim of the cap and the spindle,

a drive pin passing through the spindle and cap at right angles to the axis of the spindle, and

a non-conducting sleeve surrounding that portion of the drive pin lying within the spindle and cap.

3. In an electrically driven floor care machine, electrical insulating means for a spindle comprising an electric motor and motor housing with an opening in the housing adapted for extension outward therefrom of a motor driven spindle,

a spindle having a non-conducting cap enclosing the end of the spindle with its inner rim a spaced distance outward from the housing,

a collar of semiflexible non-conducting material encircling the spindle a spaced distance therefrom and having an inwardly turned end resting on the rim of the cap and in abutting contact with the spindle, and an outwardly turned flange on the other end anchored within the housing,

a drive pin passing through the spindle and cap at right angles to the axis of the spindle, and

a non-conducting sleeve surrounding that portion of the drive pin lying within the spindle and cap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS HALL C. COE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

